Automatic gas cut-off and fire alarm



1,520,126 J. G. HARROLD AUTOMATIC GAS CUTOFF AND FIRE ALARM Filed Jan. 17, 1 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

c/Tomv G. MRR LD. BY m a A TORNEY.

Dec. 23, 1924- 1,520,126

. J. G. HARROLD AUTOMATIC GAS CUT-OFF AND FIRE ALARM Filed Jan. 17,1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5a INVENTOR.

' k/Ofilf Gffiflmr'ow. f: BY A A 6'0 I ZSTTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

JOHN G. HARROLD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC GAS CUT-OFF AND FIRE ALARM.

Application filed January 17, 1923.

T 0 all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, J OHN G. HARnoLn, a citizen of the United States and resident of Newark, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gas Cut-Offs and Fire Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for automatically cutting off gas supply in a dwelling or other building in the event of fire, and to means for giving an alarm to notify the occupants of such dwelling or building to ensure their safety. One embodiment of the invent-ion is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing the complete installation' Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing part of the control apparatus in section;

Fig. 3 is a detail of a vent valve which is adapted to automatically cause the actuation of the apparatus when the temperature exceeds a predetermined-point;

Fig. 4 is a detail ofa sign'al adapted to give an intermittent alarm.

Referring to the drawings 10 represents a pipe adapted to supply gas for illuminating and fuel purposes to a building, and 12 is a valve for controlling the passage of gas through said pipe. This valve is arranged to be automatically closed in the event of fire in the building in which the apparatus is installed and the valve will also be closed when the temperature in the building reaches a dangerous point. The valve 12 is provided with an operating lever 14 which is slotted at 16 for engagement with a pin 18 carried by a piston rod 20 which is secured to a piston 22 working in a cylinder 24. A pipe 26 connects said cylinder with a valve 28 which is connected by a pipe 30 with a. pressure tank 32.

The valve 28 carries a piston 34 which is normallyheld in the central position shown in Fig. 2 by means of light springs 36 and 38. The piston 34 is formed with an axial port 40 to permit fluid 'to'escape through the piston so as to balance the pressure on either side thereof. A pipe 44 is connected with the valve 28 and leads to a plurality of vent valves 46 which are located in different parts of the building, Each valve 46 comprises a casing 48 carrying a gasket 50 against which is seated a spherical glass b l 52 Serial No. 613,155.

when the temperature exceeds a predeterminedpoint for example about 130 degrees F. the bulb will be broken and the air from the pipe 44 will be vented. When this takes place, pressure on the lower side of the piston valve 34 will be sufficient to overcome the tension of the spring 36 and said valve will be lifted to permit air under pressure to flow from the tank 32 through the pipe 26 and into the cylinder 24 so as to move the piston 22 and thereby move the lever 14 so 7 as to close the gas valve 12. This will prevent the escape of illuminating or fuel gas into the building and will materially reduce the fire hazard. At the, same time air will be permitted-to flow to the pipe 60 which is connected by a fitting 62 to the pipe 26. The pipe 60 carries on its end an alarm designated as a whole by the numeral 64. This alarm is arranged to give intermittent sig n'als whenever the temperature of the building exceeds a predetermined point.

The alarm comprises a casing 66 having a piston 68 'slidable therein which piston is formed with a chamber 70. The outer surface of the piston is provided with a plurality. of slots 7 2 which are connected by ports 74 to the chamber 70. Branch pipes 76 are connected to the casing 66 to convey the a-ir or other fluid to a whistle 78 which is secured to the. shank 80 where the pipes 76 join one another. The piston 68 is provided with. a stem 82 which passes through a suitable aperture 81in the head 86 of the casing, and the stem is preferably of square cross-section to prevent the piston from turning. Thepiston by its weight is normally held intheposition shown in Fig. 4, so as to close the ports 88 leading to pipes 76. When air is admitted to the pipe 60 the piston 68 will be raised by the pressure thereof. As said piston travels upward the air escapes through the successive ports 72 and through Parts 8 to the P pes 7.6

and the air impulses will intermittently sound the whistle and thereby notify the occupants of impending danger.

The tank 32 may be supplied with fluid pressure in many ways. I have herein shown it connected by means of av pipe 90' leading to the. water supply pipe 99,. The pipe 90 is preferably provided with a valve 94 to control the volume of water introduced into the pressure tank when the apparatus is originally installed. When the apparatus is installed the bulbs 52 throughout the building are firmly seated so as to prevent the escape of air through the pipes ll. The water is admitted by opening the valve 9- which will force the air from the tank and exert the pressure in the pipes 44, .26 and 80. Tl-iis pressure will be equalized on both sides of the piston valve 34:, it being clear that a small quantity of air can escape through the axial port LO. The water initially admitted will fill the tank approximately onethird full as indicated by the dotted line 96 in Fig. 1. When any one of the bulbs 52 are broken by excessive heat, pressure on the opposite sides er the piston valve 34; will be unbalanced so that the piston will be raised and the water entering the tank from the supply pipe 90 will displace the air in said tank and force it through the pipes 26 and G0 to cause a closing movement of the gas valve lever 14 and will actuate the intermittent alarm as will be understood. The pressure tank is provided with a water gage 33 and. a pet-cock so that after the apparatus has once been actuated it can be readily reset by draining oil part of the water from the tank, the valve 94 at this time being closed. The pipe 44: is provided with a shut-off valve 45 which may be closed to cut otl the pressure from the pipes 4. while any broken bulbs are being replaced after which said valve will be opened. lhe tank 32 may be supplied with COP'XPIGSSM air or even steam ii desired. and can be arrangedtobe operated independently oi" the water supply above described and the alarm may be of differentdesign from that herein described and various other changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

. hat I claim is:

1. An apparatus of the class described. including a valve cont-rolling the supply of gas to a. building, a tank normally containing-a fluid under pressure, means actuated by the fluid from said tank for operating said gas valve, and means responsive to temperature changes for controlling the flow of said fluid for actuating said last named means.

2. An apparatus 01 the class described, including a valve controlling the supply of gas to a building, tank normally contain ing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder operatively connected with said tank, a piston in said cylinder connected with said gas valve, a valve controlling the flow of fluid from said tank to said cylinder and means responsive to temperature changes for controlling the operation of said last named valve.

5-3:. in apparatus of the class described, in cluding a valve controlling the supply ol gas to a building, a tank normally contain ing a liuid under pressure. a cylinder operatively connected with said tank, a piston in said cylinder connected with said gas valve, a valve controlling the. flow of fluid from said tank to said cylinder and means responsive to temperature changes for c0ntrolling the operation of said last named valve and an alarm controlled by said valve. r n apparatus of the class described, including a valve controlling the supply of gas to a building, a tank normally containing a fluid under pressure, means actuated by the fluid from said tank for operating said gas valve, an alarm adapted to be operated by fluid from said tank and means responsive to temperature changes for controlling the supply of fluid to said gas valve operating means and said alarm so that when the temperature exceeds a predetermined point the gas supply to the building is cut oil and an alarm is given.

An apparatus of the class described including in combination a valve controlling a gas supply, means for closing said valve, a tank normally containing a fluid under pressure, a valve connectedv to the gas valve closing means and. to said tank and having a piston normally closing communication with said means and formed with a port so that the pressure on each side thereoil is balanced, and means for venting the pres sure on one side of said piston when the temperature exceeds a predetermined point so that said piston will be moved to establish communication between said tank and said gas valve closing means.

6. An apparatus of the class described including in combination a valve controlling a gas supply, means operated by air pressure for actuating said valve, a valve for controlling the supply of air to said last named means and normally in closed position including a piston having a port there in to permit the passage of air through said piston to balance the pressure on both sides thereof and means for permitting venting the air on one side of said piston comprising a breakable bulb which normally prevents the escape of air from one side of said piston.

7. An apparatus of the class described including a tank connected with a Water sup ply adapted to exert a pressure on the air in said tank, a piston valve connected to.

said tank, a pipe connected with said piston valve and in communication With said tank through an opening in the piston, a bulb normally preventing the escape of air from said pipe and adapted to be broken when the temperature exceeds a predetermined point whereby the piston Will be operated, a cylinder Whose supply of air is controlled by said piston valve said supply normally cut ofl by said piston valve a piston in said cylinder and a gas supply valve arranged to be actuated by said piston.

8. An apparatus of the class described including a valve for controlling the supply of gas to a building, fluid actuated means for closing said valve, means for giving an intermittent alarm, and a Valve controlling the last two named means and arranged to be automatically operated When the temperature in said building exceeds a predetermined point.

9. An apparatus of the class described including a Whistle. means for intermittently discharging a fluid through said Whistle including a piston having a plurality of ports therein and means responsive to temperature changes for controlling the movement of said piston.

10. An apparatus of the class described including means for discharging a fluid to give an intermittent alarm, a gas supply valve, fluid operated means for actuating said valve, and means responsive to temperature changes for controlling the flow of a fluid to said fluid discharging means and to said fluid operated means to effect the closing movement of said valve and the operation of the first named means.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

JOHN G. HARROLD. 

